(CNN) - Sen. Carl Levin, the powerful chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday he would like the Armed Forces Network to drop the controversial Rush Limbaugh program from its service that provides radio and television shows to U.S. service members around the world.

"I would hope the people that run it see just how offensive this is and drop it on their own volition," Levin told CNN in an exclusive interview in the Capitol.- Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

Levin's comments come in the wake of a widening uproar over Limbaugh's characterization of a young female law student as a "slut" and a "prostitute" for advocating insurance coverage of contraceptives.

The Pentagon said Monday the Defense Department currently has no plans to stop broadcasting the show. DOD's policy is to broadcast shows that "reflect a wide range" of opinion, said Pentagon press secretary George Little.

Levin, a generally liberal Democrat from Michigan whose top spot on Armed Services makes him very influential inside the Pentagon, said he would "love" to see the program dropped, but he doesn't think it should be up to Congress to pass a law to make it happen.

"I think that is probably an issue that should be left to the folks that run that network," he said. "In other words, I'd love to see them drop it but I don't think I'd legislate it."

The liberal leaning advocacy group Vote Vets and other progressive voices in the blogosphere have called for the AFN to drop Limbaugh's program.

Levin said he was "delighted" so many advertisers had pulled their commercials from the program.

soundoff(67 Responses)

True Beliver (not)

Thank you Sen. Carl Levin!

March 7, 2012 08:30 pm at 8:30 pm |

Jack Watcher

Taking him off military radio is a great idea. Rush spouts his distaste for the administration all day, every day and members of our military hear it. Much of what he says can be termed seditious or maybe even treasonous. Should young members of our military be listening to that? He can rant all he wants about Obama but he is the president and, as such, the Commander in Chief. But perhaps more importantly, his views of women are not appropriate for our younger troops to be exposed to. He wants the young woman to show videos of her private life. God help us

March 7, 2012 08:31 pm at 8:31 pm |

gt

just turn off the radio or change the channel..... dont like limbaugh ,, but stop the government control senator..work on jobs...

March 7, 2012 08:31 pm at 8:31 pm |

Pass

this story is over. Rush survived as he should. The next step tio this is to expose how radical Fluke is

March 7, 2012 08:32 pm at 8:32 pm |

Scottie Smith

Rush needs to be fired from his show.disgusting behavior.

March 7, 2012 08:35 pm at 8:35 pm |

noAd

Wait. Does the Pentagon pay for this program? Probably not. Or, which advertisers buy ads for this market of military personnel. Target them instead! How does this market work?

March 7, 2012 08:36 pm at 8:36 pm |

Cynthia

I haven't heard Rush Limbaugh apologize to his listeners for LYING to them. THE LISTENERS did not recieve an apology for his RANTING MISINFORMATION about Ms. Flukes testimony.

We have heard several times that the women in the military have to deal with rape and deal with disrespect. That goes for those that are gay. How does Rush think his behaviour feeds into this problem? I believe he has been hurtful, hateful and venomous. Not only disrespecting our President, who is the Commander-in-Chief voted in by the citizens of this country but, many others who do not KISS his ring. I don't agree with everything ANY President does and I defend free speech but, I don't defend lying and purposeful distortion of domestic and international policies whose results cause confusion and put our troops in the middle.
I am a mother of military men and I believe he is truly a national nightmare and doesn't care if his LYING comments hurt their efforts at home and aboard.
Pull the plug on this guy. Just because someone calls him or herself a patriot DOESN"T MAKE IT SO!!

March 7, 2012 08:36 pm at 8:36 pm |

Nick Lozano

That's right Mr. Senator, prevent the military man and woman from being able to hear free speech! How about suggesting you senators serve only one term and then retire w/o pay and benefits? Mr. Limbaugh said what needed to be said. We as americans are entitled to listen to hom or not. So, go do something more constrctive, like saving money and creating jobs!

March 7, 2012 08:37 pm at 8:37 pm |

rob

"DOD's policy is to broadcast shows that "reflect a wide range" of opinion..." - Umm, the show doesn't reflect a wide range of opinion, it only reflects an extreme right-wing opinion, including intolerance and hatred of other American citizens. Limbaugh truly is a worthless, bigoted pig.

March 7, 2012 08:40 pm at 8:40 pm |

Maggie

Go get em levin!

March 7, 2012 08:47 pm at 8:47 pm |

srk141

Where was his moral voice when Bill Maher was saying vile and obscene comments about Sarah Palin?

Mr. Limbaugh is an embarrassment to what the USA stands for. He has nothing positive going for him and his deep inferiority complex due to his weight and lack of high education make him act like the person he is right now. Mr. Limbaugh is to radio shows what Mr. Oral Roberts was for religion.

March 7, 2012 08:54 pm at 8:54 pm |

WachetAuf

It may be a good idea for the DOD to consider dropping Mr. Limbaugh and other similar voices from its network, left or right. Mr. Limbaugh's is a message of hate which stirs irrational passions in people who listen to him regularly. I see that hate come to rest in people in the civilian world who are exposed to a larger range of ideas. If it affects those in the civilian world my guess is that it would have greater effect on men and women who live in a sheltered, authoritarian society. They have been trained to accept authority without question. They are more likely to see Mr. Limbaugh as an authority figure and more easily accept his theme of hate toward government. I have seen the contempt for civilian authority first hand when I served during the Vietnam conflict. Of course, I do admit that I am no longer living among the troops and my concerns are premised upon my own experience in the military. I would like to hear from those who are serving or have recently served.

March 7, 2012 08:56 pm at 8:56 pm |

Cassandra Chu

the jewish propaganda machine wants to eliminate all other competition... which includes rush limbaugh

March 7, 2012 08:57 pm at 8:57 pm |

Wanderer

There are only minor changes but nothing is going to happen to Limbaugh substantially. He will continue to make money from the advertisers. The jumping ship of the some advertisers is just a sugar coating that has been used to calm down the anger.

March 7, 2012 09:00 pm at 9:00 pm |

Angela

Where was Levin when Bill Maher called Sarah Palin the "C" word and other choice names? Where was Levin when Ed Schultz called Laura Ingraham a slut? Come on, liberals have a double standard and they have no right to call out anyone on the conservative side. This is all about squashing conservative opinions completely, which is a total assault on our Constitution!